MEASUREMENT OF LUMBAR SPINAL BONE-MINERAL DENSITY IN PRETERM INFANTS BY DUAL-ENERGY X-RAY ABSORPTIOMETRY

Lumbar spinal bone mineral density (BMD) was measured in 40 preterm in fants by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). During the first seve ral months of life, their BMD was considerably lower than that of norm al term infants and the osteopenia was more pronounced in the more pre term and smaller infants. Weak (inverse) correlations were found betwe en the BMD and urinary calcium/creatinine or tubular phosphorus reabso rption ratio. Rickets-like changes in the forearm bones did not predic t the greater spinal osteopenia. Follow-up study was performed in 10 p reterms. In 3 of the 4 who underwent the last DXA between 8 and 12 mon ths, BMD had improved remarkably. Our present study shows the potentia l of DXA for the assessment and management of osteopenia of prematurit y.